Friends of Kaley Conway: Message from Kaley

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Message from Kaley

Friends and Family,

Your love and support over the past months has meant more to my family and me than you will ever know. It's been very tough, and I couldn't have made it through this journey without you! My medical team is very encouraged by the progess I am making, and I am told that I will be released from the hospital this week! I am looking forward to seeing all of you soon.

Love, Kaley

Where it all began (October 2011).....my week long stay at Presbyterian: 30 extra lbs of weight from swelling; jaundice; fatigue; confusion; pain; dangerously high liver levels; and every test and doctor known to man.....but still no answers. After being released for about 10 days, the next time I returned to Presbyterian was in the ER, where I was finally diagnosed with acute medicine induced liver and kidney failure and instantly put in an ambulance to UT Southwestern to begin preparation for my life saving liver transplant.

Thank you to Chris Gee for setting up this blog and donation account!

You are awesome!

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Contribution Information and Background

If you wish to make a financial contribution towards Kaley's recovery online, please utilize the PayPal DONATE button below. If you prefer to send a check, please make it payable to Kaley Conway and email friendsofkaleyconway@gmail.com for the mailing address.

*Calls, texts and emails are all welcome. People may visit for short periods of time in very small numbers. Since Kaley's immune system is so weak and will continue to be, please do not visit if you have been, feel, think you might be or have ANY symptoms of being sick.

A very condensed version of Kaley's story:

On Monday, November 21st, Kaley was rushed to the emergency room at Dallas Presbyterian Hospital where her medical team found her to be in acute liver and kidney failure with her right lung partially deflated. Arrangements were quickly made to transport her by ambulance to St. Paul’s/UT Southwestern ICU. Upon admission to the ICU, a team of specialists determined that she would need a liver transplant in order to survive and that the liver would have to become available on an emergent basis. They began the task of getting her body healthy enough to be placed on the national liver transplant list. During this time, the medical team confirmed her diagnosis to be medication-induced liver failure, caused by Augmentin, a common antibiotic prescribed for strep throat. The next couple of days included a multitude of critical procedures, including continuous kidney dialysis, pulmonary treatments for her lungs, and stabilizing an acute infection in the kidneys and lungs. Kaley was placed on the national liver transplant recipient list on Thanksgiving day. She entered the list at the top, meaning most critical. In less than 24 hours after being listed, they received a telephone call from the UTSW Transplant Coordinator that they had located a liver, which was a perfect match and in great condition. On Saturday, November 26th, at 8:17 a.m., Kaley was taken to the operating room to receive her new liver. The surgery took 11 hours, and the medical team determined that they would preform a 2nd look-see procedure 2 days later. At the completion of the first surgery, they loosely closed her and took her to the ICU. On Tuesday, November 29th, Kaley had her 2nd and final surgery which took about 3 hours.